THE BUSINESS OF VISCOSITY BLOG

In this series we’ve been discussing the impact of changes in fluid properties, specifically viscosity, on the performance of robotic fixed displacement dispensing systems.  In the first installment, “Fixed Displacement Dispensing Doesn’t Guarantee Fixed Results”, we examined common dispensing defects, contrasting those that can be readily addressed through the implementation of a robotic fixed displacement dispensing system, and those that are the result of changes in physical fluid properties, which prove to be more resilient.

The robotic industry is growing by leaps and bounds. According to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), 2017 was another record-breaking year. Last year, shipments were up 9 percent over the previous year. It was the seventh straight year North American robot shipments increased.

This year forecasts to be similar, continuing that upward trend.

The industrial robotic painting sector is no different. The same factors that are driving growth in the overall robotics market are driving growth in the industrial robotic painting segment.

For good reason.

Editor’s Note: Our VP of Engineering & Technology Mike Bonner recently spoke at the 2018 Waterborne Symposium held in New Orleans, LA. His presentation went in-depth on the differences in atomization between spray guns and bell atomizers, shedding light on how paint finishers can further improve their applications. For those not in attendance, he’s also prepared his insights here for our blog as a series of posts. To view the rest of the posts in the series, visit the Guns vs. Bells blog series page.  For a video of this presentation, sign up to follow our YouTube Channel.

Editor’s Note: Our VP of Engineering & Technology Mike Bonner recently spoke at the 2018 Waterborne Symposium held in New Orleans, LA. His presentation went in-depth on the differences in atomization between spray guns and bell atomizers, shedding light on how paint finishers can further improve their applications. For those not in attendance, he’s also prepared his insights here for our blog as a series of posts. To view the rest of the posts in the series, visit the Guns vs. Bells blog series page.  Also, watch for the video of that presentation, arriving soon on our YouTube Channel.

Editor’s Note: Our VP of Engineering & Technology Mike Bonner recently spoke at the 2018 Waterborne Symposium held in New Orleans, LA. His presentation went in-depth on the differences in atomization between spray guns and bell atomizers, shedding light on how paint finishers can further improve their applications. For those not in attendance, he’s also prepared his insights here for our blog as a series of posts. To view the rest of the posts in the series, visit the Guns vs. Bells blog series page.  Also, watch for the video of this presentation to be loaded soon on our YouTube page.

Editor’s Note: Our VP of Engineering & Technology Mike Bonner recently spoke at the 2018 Waterborne Symposium held in New Orleans, LA. His presentation went in-depth on the differences in atomization between spray guns and bell atomizers, shedding light on how paint finishers can further improve their applications. For those not in attendance, he’s also prepared his insights here for our blog as a series of posts. To view future posts in the series, check the Guns vs. Bells blog series page over the following weeks on Thursdays and Sundays.  Also, watch for the recording of this presentation to be put up on our YouTube channel shortly…

Editor’s Note: Our VP of Engineering & Technology Mike Bonner recently spoke at the 2018 Waterborne Symposium held in New Orleans, LA. His presentation went in-depth on the differences in atomization between spray guns and bell atomizers, shedding light on how paint finishers can further improve their applications.

For those not in attendance, he’s prepared his insights here for our blog as a series of posts. To view future posts in the series, check the Guns vs. Bells blog series page over the following weeks on Thursdays and Sundays.  The presentation was recorded and will be also available on our YouTube channel in the not-too-distant future.  Stay tuned for that announcement!

Norcross has been in the viscosity control business for over 80 years. During that time we have seen “best practices” in the industry come and go. Some have become the standard and some have been displaced by new practices or technologies.

Even in the best circumstances, (new gearless high speed presses, highly trained and attentive pressmen, atmospherically controlled environments, great ink suppliers, etc.), you can still have print issues.

Many of those issues may be related to ineffective viscosity measurement and control. 

To determine the viscosity of a liquid, a Zahn cup is dipped and completely filled with the liquid to be measured. After lifting the cup out of the liquid, the user measures the time it takes for the liquid streaming from the opening in the bottom of the cup to begin “breaking up.” This is the corresponding "efflux time." 

(Quick note:  Efflux is defined as “the flowing out of a particular substance or particle.” Cups of this nature may be more recognizable by names like Zahn Cup, Shell Cup, or Ford Cup. For purposes of this blog, I am using the Zahn cup to refer to all efflux cups). As I am fond of saying, it's not rocket science it's fluid science, (which requires a degree of education).

Sounds simple right?

It is!